Integration, information literacy : a librarian, learner, lecturer partnership in foundation (extended curriculum) programmes

Abstract

The DUT’s Academic Strategic Plan (2005) emphasizes the importance of integrating all activities that contribute to the “total student learning experience”. It particularly mentions that the Library should not be seen as merely supporting teaching and learning, but rather as involved in teaching, learning and research.

The DUT Library acknowledges its pivotal role in the teaching and learning process and endeavours to integrate IL into the academic programmes, veering away from its traditional, supportive role. To this effect the Library has developed a framework for Information Literacy and designed an IL course using Outcomes Based Education principles. The IL course was integrated into the curriculum of 16 extended curriculum programmes offered at DUT in 2007.

The process of integration included the Library’s participation from the planning stages of the ECP through to the level of teaching, assessing and evaluating.